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jmen24 · 03-02-2009, 11:50 AM

Being a very proficient GPS user I know the number one rule of GPS orienteering is to never put full faith into your GPS and take a compass bearing. I do know that it can be quite fun to use the GPS to get out of an area as it works, and can work well, but let me tell you a story.

Hunting Colorado for Elk this past October, I was dropped off by the guide 4.75 miles from camp and he went back to camp with the horses (BLM lands with no wheeled vehicle access) and my job was to walk back toward camp taking the better part of the day, this was planned and it was only for my experience with GPS was it allowed by the outfitter. I do have two-way communication ability (FMS) as well as GMRS that allows for 14 miles of traffic distance. Being that no one was expecting me for quite a while getting lost could be a real concern, so as I did every morning I took a being position on camp as well as my starting point (trail head or end). After about two hours of walking the GPS could not maintain enough battery power to run all of the functions and therefore I opted to shut down the GPS and keep the radio only for an emergency call out if needed (after seven days without power or a store for more batteries). Keeping the radio alive also allows for another GPS of the same model to poll your location even if you do not respond and your location shows on the other GPS as a waypoint. Needless to say I spent the rest of the day heading toward camp using my compass and ended up on the trail toward camp approx. 300 yards to the southeast and walked into camp right on time. Had I not taken the original bearing on the compass I would have created a very stressful situation for my guide and his camp hands. The point of this story is that no matter how great you or your GPS are if you do not bring, use and no how to use a compass your are opening yourself to an opportunity to make it on the news. Never trust a GPS reading as gospel as any metal within 12" of the unit while you are taking a reading skews the reading by a few degrees, always. Be safe and enjoy the outdoors.

Jmen

03-02-2009, 11:50 AM	#8
jmen24 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,139 Thanks: 223 Thanked 319 Times in 181 Posts	What about the Compass? Being a very proficient GPS user I know the number one rule of GPS orienteering is to never put full faith into your GPS and take a compass bearing. I do know that it can be quite fun to use the GPS to get out of an area as it works, and can work well, but let me tell you a story. Hunting Colorado for Elk this past October, I was dropped off by the guide 4.75 miles from camp and he went back to camp with the horses (BLM lands with no wheeled vehicle access) and my job was to walk back toward camp taking the better part of the day, this was planned and it was only for my experience with GPS was it allowed by the outfitter. I do have two-way communication ability (FMS) as well as GMRS that allows for 14 miles of traffic distance. Being that no one was expecting me for quite a while getting lost could be a real concern, so as I did every morning I took a being position on camp as well as my starting point (trail head or end). After about two hours of walking the GPS could not maintain enough battery power to run all of the functions and therefore I opted to shut down the GPS and keep the radio only for an emergency call out if needed (after seven days without power or a store for more batteries). Keeping the radio alive also allows for another GPS of the same model to poll your location even if you do not respond and your location shows on the other GPS as a waypoint. Needless to say I spent the rest of the day heading toward camp using my compass and ended up on the trail toward camp approx. 300 yards to the southeast and walked into camp right on time. Had I not taken the original bearing on the compass I would have created a very stressful situation for my guide and his camp hands. The point of this story is that no matter how great you or your GPS are if you do not bring, use and no how to use a compass your are opening yourself to an opportunity to make it on the news. Never trust a GPS reading as gospel as any metal within 12" of the unit while you are taking a reading skews the reading by a few degrees, always. Be safe and enjoy the outdoors. Jmen